The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) bans the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, and direct or indirect transfer of Chemical Weapons. It also prohibits the use or preparation for use of CW and the assistance, encouragement, or inducement of anyone else to engage in activities prohibited by the CWC.

The CWC entered into force on April 29, 1997, following ratification by 65 signatories. As of April 23, 2009, 188 countries have either ratified or acceded to the CWC. Another 2 are signatories (lsrael and Burma: listed below in regular type face that are not followed by dates). The remaining five countries, Angola, Egypt, North Korea, Somalia and Syria have neither signed nor acceded to the CWC.

TOTAL States Parties = 188

If a scroll bar appears below the following table, swipe the table to move left/right of the dashed line.